Grimmer felt Tenma tense in his arms, could hear the protest even before it came. "You were married," Tenma choked out softly, a hand coming up to press against his mouth, as if it would filter what came out and bar himself from listening to Grimmer's request. "You don't--you don't like men."
"That's not the point," Grimmer said suddenly in retort, his hands steady on Tenma's back. His thumb shifted, running once over the bump of Tenma's spine. "That's not the point, doctor. I don't... I don't like anyone, I don't think. But I like you." Grimmer swallowed around the words, his face calmer than he thought it would be.
"You had a child with her, Mr. Grimmer, don't do this to me out of pity," Tenma snapped, slow and unsure, his eyes rimming with moisture as he placed his hands on Grimmer's chest and pushed in some half-formed attempt to escape the man's hold. Grimmer let go, almost immediately, but Tenma stayed, his hands gripping at the other man's shirt. When Tenma lifted his eyes to meet the other's gaze, Grimmer's expression was hollow, lidded, a frown on his features.
"Yes. I did," Grimmer whispered, his hands moving to cover the doctor's smaller ones. "And he's gone. And so is Greta. And now I'm here, and I couldn't possibly have an ounce of pity for you, doctor. You're incredible." Grimmer's voice was calm, the pain in his chest for his son ignited once more by the other man's words, but something else overshadowed it. Something deeper, a deeper ache that was sweeter than anything he'd felt before. "I need you to believe me."